Book Review: Green (The Circle, Book 0: The Beginning and the End) by Ted Dekker

'Ted Dekker's long awaitedGreen, Book 0: The Beginning and the End was, as always, a great Dekker read. Dekker's ability to define and reveal characters is one of the main reasons he is one of my favorite authors. Add to this the wondrous allegory of the Christian themes so tightly interwoven throughout all his books makes Dekker a simply must-read author.

Curious of how Green could be the first in the The Circle Series as well as the last, I could not wait to read it. Reading the familiar characters hearkened my thoughts back to the original story and reignited my experience of when I read Black, Red, and White.

Thomas Hunter, leader of the Circle, is faced with rebellion from within his own family as his son Samuel leads an uprising of those in the Circle who have grown tired of waiting for Elyon. The way Thomas is portrayed here reminds of how David grieved for his son Absalom.

What option does Thomas now have to renew the Great Romance in his son Samuel? He must travel in time and find the Books of History. He will have to do what he can to change history.

You will find evil in this book and it is shown as it is, sometimes repugnant, vulgar and gross. But that is true evil. You will also find good in this book and it is shown as it is: pure, beautiful, engaging, and spotless. More importantly, it is revealed that God is providential and never out of control. This is a difficult concept to weave into such a story of good versus evil, but Dekker accomplishes it quite well.

Green is simply a dynamic thriller and one not to miss. Warring tribes, supernatural encounters, the end of the world as we know it, love, hate, and sacrifice all vivid reminders of humanity's fallen nature. This is humanity; this is our nature without a loving God to intercede.